Window shopping for marketing tips

JobMob has kindly put together a list of blogs from the members of Digital Eve Israel (DEVA). The list contains a number of great sites packed with useful marketing and communications tips from English-speaking professionals working in the communications/technology fields in Israel. It is an excellent free resource, but the best part about it is that because it is a list of blogs rather than regular business websites it is more causal, chatty ….and even entertaining.

What’s all this twitter about ?

Last week I attended a Twitter gathering in the Old City (of Jerusalem). I did so not because I am such a die-hard Twitter fan; in fact, up to that point I still wasn’t so sure about the point of Twitter, but because it was literally two minutes walks away and I couldn’t face the sense of guilt at not having been bothered to attend what could potentially be a worthwhile networking event so close to home. So, I went, it was worthwhile, I met some interesting people and,  perhaps best of all, finding the venue (a groovy little bar in the Armenian Quarter) was an extra special treat.

I am not sure just how much twittering is directly relevant to Jewish education, but I think for people who have a specialist interest or who wish to promote a particular idea, product or method (and who have the time to dedicate to promoting it) then Twitter could be a great way to get information out to a captive audience. But like most things, it requires a little ground work, particular to ensure that you build up a suitable audience to justify the time you spend on it.

If you are interested in knowing more, I highly recommend taking a look at this great blog entry on how to Twitter effectively: 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business which I found really useful.

What I have also learned recently is that Twitter is mostly heavily used by people in their 40s and 50s (unlike Facebook, it is not so much for teenagers) and that much of its use is business or special interest oriented. So, if you have something to promote, this could be worth keeping in mind.

Of course, don’t forget to look out for me on Twitter @marjoriesolomon

The pros and cons of web building

I have just spent two and a half months immersed in the development of a new website for In One Hour. I made the decision that we needed a new website almost half a year ago because I recognised that while wordpress.com is great and very user-friendly (especially for non-techies) it does not really allow you to develop an online commercial presence.

We had already been dancing on the border of wordpress.com rules about commerciality when we began selling David’s books, but I wanted to take it further. And thankfully, after much time, effort, head and heart aches – and a massive learning curve – I have created a new site using wordpress.org which does not restrict commercial activity. The new site now boasts a range of fabulous new features, in particular, it has a Members’ Library, where people can pay to subscribe to the service and it has already started generating income.

The question is just whether the time and effort was ultimately cost effective. When everything is considered, I am not sure, but I am really glad I did it. The experience has given me a real insight into web development and in the process I have picked up some great business model ideas and insights on alternative ways of doing things. I am also super proud of myself for succeeding in this monumental adventure.

But for others who have neither the will, the propensity nor the time to dedicate themselves to such an effort, I think it might actually be worthwhile to either stick to the wordpress.com site or to pay someone else to make something new for you.

A final note: for people who try to create a distinction between website building platforms and blog templates like wordpress I say ‘humbug’. So far, I have not seen where and why these blog building tools should be limited to creating blogs alone – because they can do so much more. It seems to me that to assign them to a lower rung on the site building ladder smacks of web world snobbery.

Protecting the Integrity of your Mailing List

It is nice to share…and nice to be able to help colleagues. Sometimes, however, it is not always a great idea. I am thinking about the issue of sharing mailing lists. In general, people are protective of their mailing lists and are often unwilling to allow other people to use their lists. I tend to support this position. While it is great to be able to share and co-operate as much as possible, mailing lists are somewhat different because people sign up to a mailing list for a specific purpose. And in doing so, there is an implicit trust that their contact information will not be shared with others without their permission and that they will not be inundated with information for which they have not asked. It is my belief that in this case, your responsibility to protect the privacy and interests of your constituents outweighs your desire to help your colleagues.

Networking is a Social Phenomenon

Last Wednesday night (August 20th) I attended the First International Jewish Bloggers Convention hosted by aliyah support agency, Nefesh B’Nefesh. The convention was attended by around 200 bloggers in person and around another 1300 online, who were able to watch (and comment on) the conference via a live weblink.

In structure and content, the conference was of some value but the most important part for me was undoubtedly the networking opportunities it afforded. In the space of a few hours I met and swapped cards with a range of very useful contacts and even went for a quick drink after with some great people – from whom I learnt a number of very useful tips.

Why am I telling you this? Simply to underline the importance of getting out there and taking part, getting involved and talking to people. This is especially important at professional events where the networking possibilities are much greater. So please, I urge you to not only attend more of these events, but also when you are there, to make sure that you really get involved and meet and exchange information with people as much as you can. And not just that: as educators and performers you should have fairly well developed social skills, so also see if you can enjoy yourself in the process!

If you would like to see more of the Jewish Bloggers Convention please click here where you will also be able to get occasional unexpected glimpses of me